When the St. Marys Garden Fair returns in less than three weeks, it will mark the event’s 21st anniversary. What’s allowed the show to establish such strong roots over two-plus decades?

“I think it’s just the love of gardening people have,” said event spokesperson Ann Pedley. “There’s so much together in one place – gardeners, we like that kind of thing.”

Run by the St. Marys Horticultural Society, it’s also become part of the fabric of the local community with garden enthusiasts waiting for the fair to make their big purchases.

“A lot of people just – they wait for that day to buy a lot of their annuals and hanging pots and things,” she said. “They’ve been doing it for so long it’s just what they do now.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: St. Marys Garden FairWHEN: Saturday, June 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.WHERE: Milt Dunnell Field St. MarysCOST: Free

This year’s event is set for June 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Milt Dunnell Field.

“Which is really a nice venue, you’ve got the river on two sides and the park and people can bring picnic baskets and have a little picnic after or go into the town and wander around the town,” said Pedley, a St. Marys resident.

Over 20 garden-related vendors will be on site offering intriguing options such as hanging baskets, birdhouses – including stone versions – perennials, annuals, shrubs, and metal and glass products, Pedley said. One vendor will be selling glass reflectors that can be installed in gardens.

“I’m anxious to see what that looks like, because it sounds interesting,” she said.

Of course there will be plenty of nursery stock such as hostas and lilies.

“We have a lot of everything,” Pedley said.

Master gardeners will also be available to answer any questions.

Meanwhile, there will be 15 varieties of the always-popular heirloom tomatoes for sale such as Red Pear, Tartar from Mongolistan, Italian Heirloom, Druzba and Amish Paste. Three society members will combine for over 500 plants.

The garden fair is a free event, but also a major fundraiser for the local horticultural society through tomato sales and a percentage from visiting vendors.

“But it’s really good for the people coming because they don’t have to pay anything, there’s no parking, there’s no entrance (fee), you can just wander around,” she said.

There will also be food available for purchase.

“It’s quite a little social time in there, there’s picnic tables set up and everybody will be in there talking and gossiping and picking up on the news of the town,” she said with a chuckle.

In addition to local residents, the show tends to attract people from throughout the region.

“It’s surprising,” she said. “We get quite a few from Stratford and out in the country and we’ve had quite a few London-way.

“We’re getting people coming from quite a distance away, which is really good.”

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